If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

The Heroes would always have a hazy memory of that last hour or so spent racing out of the collapsing cavern that the ruined city of Xax Tsaroth had fallen into during the Catacylsm. The would have vague memories of hurriedly splashing through the massive sewer pipe and into the suddenly shaking and shuddering building that housed the Gulley Dwarf clan. Yelling for the Gullies to make their escape amidst falling rocks from the ceiling and the heaving earth underfoot; a chaotic mass of beings poured out of the cavern and the ruins of city; alternately climbing up thick vines along the cavern wall or like the party; making their way to the make-shift pot-lift....

Along the way Thorn the Dwarf spotted a hand-axe whose metal still gleamed, despite having collected dust in a forgotten corner of a collapsed building for over three centuries. Some metal-work along the blade clearly showed the Axe was of Dwarven make and upon picking it up; the veteran warrior instantly knew the balance was PERFECT*. Even whilst running for his life; a small smile split his bearded face...

The companions briefly fought some panicked Draconians upon arriving at the Pot; but with little difficulty they overpowered them and managed to rise quickly along with several Gully Dwarves as the other Pot had collected a large hunk of masonry from the ruins and was dropping like a stone. They clutched onto the sides of the Pot and the supporting chains and fought dizziness with the rapid ascent. They managed to quickly get out upon reaching the highest point though and they grudgingly helped the Gullies they came with them get out as well. The Gullies ran off into the distance; saying the knew of some tunnels where their kin would climb up to and they would take it from there. The companions could tell the Gullies were quite the survivors and though they certainly didn't know what they were talking about in most cases; they did in this one area. Shrugging; they made their way to the circular stairs and up to the Temple of Mishakal on the surface. Upon arriving; they beheld yet another miraculous sight....

Exhausted from the drama of the day; they all collapsed in the room and gasped for breath for a few moments before they all suddenly noticed the familiar figure kneeling near the statue of Mishakal. It was Maxavel; and she was in full health and good spirits! She was now sporting a medallion around her neck that held a blue-white stone on the front with an infinity symbol etched into it; which she explained was the symbol of Mishakal the healer; and that the medallion symbolized that she was now a True Cleric; the first of her kind in over 350 years. The Blue Crystal Staff was gone now; once again a part of the great statue that had come alive to them before when the Goddess herself had briefly animated it; and in return Maxavel carried a lesser but still potent magical staff** as a final gift from the Goddess.

All that afternoon and early evening; the companions relaxed in the Temple of Mishakal, discussing all they had seen and experienced; rested and cleaned up and studied their new gear and gifts well into the night before falling into a deep and peaceful sleep that night...

Maxavel studied the Disks; learning the proper chants and prayers and hymns and rituals expected of a Cleric of Mishakal; and when she awoke in the morning she knew how to pray for spells from her Deity. She then felt compelled to share the Disks with Garth and the young squire humbly thanked her and soon became almost as enthralled in the readings as she had been. She also learned that her Staff would serve as both a potent tool against foes and have the ability to help heal anyone she could aide....

Valentheran dusted off the old Spellbook tome carefully and could soon deduce that the book was a largely incomplete book of a long-lost Red-Robe by the name of Rokellian Murath. It contained three spells and dozens of blank pages. The three spells were all spells the Elf did NOT possess though; so he worked tirelessly to transpose them into his own spellbook; the new spells included Magic Missile; Identify; and Levitate...

Thorn the Dwarf experimented a bit with his newly acquired hand-axe; and while he was NOT an expert weapon-smith; the veteran warrior knew enough to know that the weapon had been made at LEAST half a millennium ago; and almost certainly had been blessed by the magic of the long-lost Dwarven Clerics. The Axe appeared to be lighter and stronger than it should be; certainly it did not rust or get tarnished with age; and when he wandered out of the Temple and tossed it at the wall he was amazed and pleased to feel that the axe certainly seemed to be extraordinarily accurate and well-balanced; bit into the stone of the wall with no damage done to the blade's edge AND most amazing of all; vanished from the wall to instantly re-appear in his hand a mere moment after striking home. Thorn was well-pleased indeed with his new weapon....

Garth was quite happy with new Broadsword; which had clearly been the possession of a long-lost Knight of Solamnia; but upon reading the Disks of Mishakal; he was soon riveted upon reading about the Deity known as Kiri-Jolith in particular; and Paladine and Habbakuk as well. Paladine was the King of all the Gods of Good and the Husband to Maxavel's Goddess; Mishakal. Their twin sons were Kiri-Jolith; the bison-headed warrior of Justice; and Habbakuk; the Ranger of good-aligned woodsmen and sailors. The bison-headed God himself appeared in a vision to the young Squire and told him that he would serve as his first chosen champion in centuries and in time; he would serve a great purpose in the restoration of the honor of the Knights of Solamnia. Awed and humbled; the young squire soon fell into a deep, peaceful sleep and upon arising in the morning; he knew he was forever DIFFERENT; from what he had been***...

*The Hand-Axe is a +1/+3 when thrown Dwarven Thrower which only works in the hands of a Dwarf and is a +1 to Hit and Damage weapon when used in melee combat (by a Dwarf) and a +3 to hit/does double damage if a hit is scored when thrown (by a Dwarf); and will return to the Thrower's Hand at the end of the round.

**Maxavel's Staff is a +1 Staff for combat purposes and can heal any individual touched for 1d8+3 points of damage if held by a Good aligned Cleric and that Cleric invokes the ability. It can only heal a certain individual ONCE a day each; to a maximum of 12 people.

***Garth is now a Paladin of Kiri-Jolith; which is pretty much exactly like an AD&D Paladin with a couple of small differences; instead of a permanent "Protection from Evil" effect as listed in the books; all Evil creatures are at -2 to hit you. Also; no "Call for a Warhorse" ability; but you WILL have a chance to bond with a different kind of mount at a point later in the saga....a much more powerful mount...

Finally; if it wasn't obvious; Maxavel is now a Cleric in every sense and can choose spells each day as per Standard Cleric procedure.

After taking some rest and experimenting a bit with the axe, the dwarf looked up at his companion. "Alright, Can anyoneexplain to me what just happened down there?" He asked, " 'Cause I have nothing, there's no way we sohuld have been able ot beat that Dragon." He added.